Marshall University Marshall Digital Scholar The aP rthenon University Archives 9-4-2015 The aP rthenon, September 4, 2015 Malcolm Walton [email protected] Bradley Heltzel [email protected] Shalee Rogney [email protected] Sara Ryan [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: http://mds.marshall.edu/parthenon Recommended Citation Walton, Malcolm; Heltzel, Bradley; Rogney, Shalee; and Ryan, Sara, "The aP rthenon, September 4, 2015" (2015). The Parthenon. Paper 507. http://mds.marshall.edu/parthenon/507 This Newspaper is brought to you for free and open access by the University Archives at Marshall Digital Scholar. It has been accepted for inclusion in The aP rthenon by an authorized administrator of Marshall Digital Scholar. For more information, please contact [email protected]. INKED LINKED TUESDAY + FRIDAY EVERY DAY @MUParthenon FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2015 | VOL. 119 NO. 2 | MARSHALL UNIVERSITY’S STUDENT NEWSPAPER | marshallparthenon.com Marshall looks to continue success after championship season FOOTBALL >>>page 2 EDITION Herd revamps defensive line after several key losses >>>page 2 Herd counting on rabid fans Sunday >>>page 3 Big Ten finally makes debut in Huntington >>>page 3 Thundering Herd football schedule >>>page 4 Herd ground game returns talented group >>>page 4 C M Y K 50 INCH 2 FOOTBALL EDITION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2015 | | MARSHALLPARTHENON.COM Marshall looks to continue success after championship season Marshall University players prepare to take the field before a home game during the 2014 season. PARTHENON FILE PHOTO By JOSEPH ASHLEY This year starts off with a higher level of competition, Purdue defensive stops. THE PARTHENON University. The Boilermakers have a lot of skill returning, includ- In 2012, the Herd’s defense gave up more than 40 points a The Marshall University 2014 football team capitalized on a ing eight starters on offense. game, but it has shown a marked improvement since. Purdue’s entire offensive line and its quarterback are return- On a high note, Marshall University returns defensive stand it to a 13-1 record. ing from last year, as well as wide receiver Danny Anthrop, who out Evan McKelvey, who went down with an ACL injury in the favorableWhile the schedule defense and had a highlyits ups efficient and downs, offense it wasthat consistentpropelled led the team with 616 yards receiving. game at Old Dominion University last season. enough to win the conference, overcoming a big challenge from However, the Boilermakers have struggled during recent years, In the coach’s press conference, Holliday named him an emo- Louisiana Tech University in the conference championship game. having won just three games in 2014 and one game in 2013. tional leader and said McKelvey would have likely been the best The weakness of the defense was demonstrated against West- Doc Holliday, the Marshall University head football coach, said player on defense last year. if not for his season-ending injury. ern Kentucky University, as the Hilltoppers piled up 67 points on the last time the team faced Purdue in 2012, the Herd had an Joseph Ashley can be contacted at ashley38@marshall. the Herd. offense capable of scoring, but the team was unable to make edu. Herd revamps defensive line after several key losses By BRADLEY HELTZEL for loss, one sack and an interception. starting spots, but defensive tackles ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR Samuel said as the single returning In his weekly press conference, head starter and most experienced player sophomore Tomell One and redshirt coach Doc Holliday praised the pro- on the defensive line, he has taken coach J.C. Price will devote snaps to gram’s player development during his on more of a leadership role this rotation as well. The two combined to tenure at Marshall University. offseason. playsenior 390 Ricardo snaps Williamsa year ago as collecting part of the The graduation of perhaps the pro- However, he added that the coach- 32 tackles, three tackles for loss and Marshall linemen run through a drill PARTHENON FILE PHOTO gram’s most revered recruiting class ing staff’s preparation has resulted in a sack. during practice. will test that theory Sunday when a a number of players returning with cornucopia of new starters take the considerable experience. are pegged as the new starters for Stationed next to Samuel as the Sunday’sJoe Massaquoi opener, andalthough Armonze defensive Daniel team’s three-technique tackle will be ends coach Sean Cronin will utilize a Edwardsfield as the Stadium. Herd welcomes Purdue Steve Dillon, who played in 14 games hefty rotation throughout the season. UniversityHowever, to the the number confines of offresh Joan faces C. last season posting 35 tackles, 2.5 “The two best are going to start,” atop the depth chart of the defensive tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. Dillon, Cronin said. “But they’re all going to line supersedes that of any other po- who has played at the three technique rotate, that’s the way we play.” sitional grouping after 2014 starters and nose tackles in the past, said he’s Based on Cronin’s assertion, that ready to perform both roles again this means plenty of snaps for redshirt ju- season but acknowledges the differ- nior Gary Thompson and sophomore lastJames season. Rouse, Arnold Blackmon and transfer Blake Keller. Ra’ShawdeThe lone Myersreturning have starter departed is nose since “At three, I’m more of attacking,” Dil- Cronin said a player’s place on the lonences said. and difficulties of the each spot. depth chart one week does not guar- said is a prime example of the team’s Dillon added that he is a bit rusty at antee anything the next week. in-housetackle Jarquez development. Samuel, who Holiday the nose and actually prefers the three “Depth charts are written in pencil,” “We talk all the time about player because of the position’s simplicity. Cronin said. “I’m never going to put development within our program and “That’s where I’m more comfort- an end to competition. There’s going watching guys grow up and become able, as the three,” Dillon said. “Once you go through your pre-snap reads There might be somebody else for the surely a guy who has done a great job and you eliminate blocks coming to secondto be somebody game. The for second the first one game. of those withplayers,” that, Holliday and he’s said. developed “[Jarquez] well.” is you, and what can you possibly get, it’s guys gets comfortable and stops work- Samuel, a 6-foot-4, 287-pound line- all about just going. You don’t want to ing, they’re going to get beat out.” man, started all 14 games last season, think too much.” Bradley Heltzel can be contacted Samuel and Dillon will occupy the at [email protected]. accumulating 30 tackles, five tackles page designed and edited by MALCOLM WALTON| [email protected] C M Y K 50 INCH 3 FOOTBALL EDITION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2015 | | MARSHALLPARTHENON.COM Herd counting on rabid fans Sunday By BRITTANIE FOWLER THE PARTHENON Thirty-eight thousand. That’s how many fans it will take to pack Joan C. Edwards Stadium Sunday against Purdue. As of Tuesday, an es- timated 30,000 tickets had already been sold. Marshall University ranked at the top of the conference last year for the number of fans attending home games. Joan C. Edwards Stadium av- eraged a 72 percent capacity in 2014, a number the ticket season. Coming off a one-loss seasonoffice would and a like bowl to win,beat thatthis goal doesn’t seem too far out of reach. What is it that keeps these fans coming back year after year? Marshall fan Alex Dawes explains. “Being a Marshall football fan… it holds a really strong connection to my family,” Dawes said. “I’ve had several cousins that have donned the green and white and played football for Marshall. I’ve al- ways grown up a fan but now PARTTHENON FILE PHOTO. that I’m here on campus it means so much more. Walk- ing into the stadium anytime PARTHENON FILE PHOTO you hear the ‘We Are…’ chant Marshall fans cheer on the Herd. Marshall had the best attendance numbers amongst Conference USA members for home games last season. I get cold chills. Even thinking “They’re loyal,” Johnson if we’re losing, the fans are of Huntington together each travel to Huntington and sell-out Sunday as it hosts about it, I get cold chills. Being said. “They sit there and always there supporting us and every weekend to watch watch him play. its first Big Ten team in Hun- a Marshall football fan means support you all game and and they stay there and tell Marshall football. “This Sunday I’m going to tington, Johnson asks one everything and having a com- they don’t leave you. Like us ‘congratulations.’” Johnson, who is from have a lot of people up here thing of his fans: munity that comes together is I said before, many times Marshall fans share a com- Richlands, Virginia, expects supporting me from home,” “Come here. Be loud. Cheer what means the most.” I’ve been recruited by dif- mon bond only understood to see some familiar faces Johnson said. “My high hard... and support us.” Senior team captain Devon ferent colleges and I’ve by those who bleed the green in the crowd. With Mar- school coaches, my family, Predicted score: 24-17 Johnson would agree with the been there and I’ve seen the and white. Fans have roots shall only being about three and my friends will all be Marshall statement that Marshall has games.